In this article, we answer some common questions that a casual combat sports spectator may have about the art of Muay Thai and it’s history.
Q: What is the origin of Muay Thai (MT)?
A: Muay Thai is considered the national sport of Thailand, so children have been learning in schools and gyms for years and years. It comes from the term “Siamese Boxing.” Noting that Thailand was named Siam in the past, just as Myanmar was called Burma, and having a lot of ancient war history between the two countries. A legend is told that the king of Burma had a Siamese prisoner named Khanomtom and he had to face multiple attackers one after another. The king was amazed, and this is the “legend” or “myth” of Muay Thai fighters being such strong people and honing their skills. They began to give it life; they wanted everyone to be strong like this man that was given his freedom after fighting an ungodly amount of people using the art of 8 limbs.
Q: Since MT focuses on strategy, technique, and aesthetics - what does this include?
A: A typical session consists of a jog, we go 3–5 rounds on pads as hard as you can. We do this so after we are tired, we can play spar. We usually do 3–5 rounds of this as well. The idea isn’t to hurt your partner it is to tap and show openings to teach yourself what works for yourself. After we do a rigorous 20–30 minutes of clinching or plum which is basically stand-up wrestling. People don’t always know this but the stand-up wrestling is to throw the opponent or dump or sweep – what you want to call it – but you must not use judo or double leg take downs. The clinch is for in-fighting, knees, and elbows. This can be someone’s style to get in the clinch and knee you and elbow you and just constantly pull on the head just like a wrestler but once they fall down, we allow them to stand up. MT is a martial art that there are no specific rules of a jab jab cross. Yes, we may use this but we are supposed to make our own style by the weapons we learn and create our own style within the rules of not going to the ground fighting. As Bruce Lee said: “Like water my friend, like water.”
Q: What are the rules of professional MT?
A: A bout in professional Muay Thai consists of 3 rounds of 3 minutes for men and 2 minutes for women. If the fight is a title fight or main event it may consists of 5 rounds of 3 minutes for males and 5 rounds of 2 minutes for females. You can punch, kick, knee, elbow, clinch and dumps and sweeps are allowed. Also, if you are dropped 3 times in one round the fight is over. If you hit the canvas once you have a standing 8 count: same with the second knockdown. After the 3rd, the judge will call it off.
Q: I have heard MT called the “Art of eight limbs”, can you elaborate on what this entails?
A: “The Art of eight limbs.” Well in Muay Thai we have 8 weapons: two kicks, two knees, two elbows, and two punches. That is why is is called the art of 8 limbs. You have your 8 weapons.
Q: Who do you consider to be the greatest Muay Thai fighter of all time?
A: My personal favorite is Yodkhunpon Sittriaphum (also known as The Elbow Hunter of 100 stitches or Elbow fighter). He is sat next to Dieselnoi who was the greatest fighter, and I have had the pleasure of learning some techniques as well as he broke down one of my fights, and he comes to my gym quite often as he is a friend of my Kru. The answers and comments are coming from the years and years I have been here and met them. These are the stories I have heard through learning Thai and Muay Thai so what I was told was Dieselnoi scared his whole division away at about 6 foot 3 or 4 and 134 lbs. I believe he had such a vicious knee style. He is the only fighter to never lose his championship at Lumpinee Stadium and was forced to retire during his prime. The last is Samart Payakaroon. He actually fought Dieselnoi and lost but he was very good with his hands and most people believe that he was the best by the number of fights and titles he held at one time.
Q: What combat sport is MT similar to and why?
A: I would say Muay Thai is similar to Glory Kickboxing except for the fact of elbows and clinching.
Q: I have heard that Muay Thai has derived from British boxing. Will you please tell about the connection and history between MT and boxing? Well, Muay Thai has been around for much longer. What the connection is between boxing and Muay Thai is there have been several including Samart win belts in Boxing on the international scale; there are a few of them that have fought and become boxing champions. It was never derived from British boxing as the stance, the weapons, attacks, counters and defense are all very different.
Q: Which martial art do you think is more effective in a street fight, Muay Thai or Kickboxing?
A: Well, I am obviously biased, but I believe the control that you learn from clinch and light play fighting makes it more effective in a street fight or to deescalate any street fight happening.
Q: The Thai military has utilized MT for years, since the the Army existed with Thailand. How do you feel that this helps in real world combat?
A: I believe that this is part of their culture if you are in the army learning Muay Thai, it would be no different from our own armies getting ready as most attacks are not from close range or hand to hand combat. I do believe the sport makes you more tough which I have noticed with many of the ex-army Thai people that train. They are extremely tough and very strong.
Q: How many years does it take to train religiously, to become at the highest level in Muay Thai?
A: Now, this question I believe depends on the person. There are some foreigners that begin training at adult age that beat some Thais that have been training since they were children. This depends on how much hard work and dedication you put into your training and the time and the money to put into your training.
Q: Are there quite a few people in Thailand that practice the MT combat sport? In essence, is it a typical sport to practice in many people’s homes in Thailand?
A: This question may surprise people but unless they went to a school or their family wanted their kid to fight to help pay bills at an early age, this happens a lot. The child will go training, go to school, and return back to training after school fighting once or twice a month to help the family. When you get to the elite Muay Thai fighters, they usually have family before that did Muay Thai as well, but they become elite because they enjoy it. They fight into maybe their early to late twenties and then they find a new job. In the USA we might see parks to run or do pull ups. Here, you might see a park to do pull ups along with a free ring, covered, and a few bags to hit. So yes, Muay Thai is definitely around everywhere. USA, American football is the national sport. In Thailand, Muay Thai is the national sport.
My name is Austin Petti. I have been writing short stories and poetry for my whole life. Also, another passion is MMA and Muay Thai. You see I have been doing MMA since I was 19 years old–25. I made my pro debut in Indonesia. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer, which I have many stories. I joined Indonesia because it was the closest country to Thailand and hoped I could find a job in Thailand from another Peace Corps Volunteer and I did it. Now I have been living in Thailand for 8 years I have 16 pro fights. I just want to educate the people who watch MMA like me what is practical and what is different? What is the same between the martial arts and a lot of interesting training tools.